Soliloquy on a Postage Stamp - Politicians, Physicians, Scientists, and Thespians with Ties to UNICEF - Part IV : Fouad Kronfol

Over its 75 year history UNICEF and its activities have been affected by the work and contributions of many illustrious world personalities. These relations have been both direct and indirect, and have included well known politicians, Nobel Prize winning scientists and physicians as well as many stars of stage and screen. To honour these persons many countries have issued philatelic materials over time.

Another category of personalities who played a role in the history of UNICEF were celebrities from the artistic world, including stars of stage and screen.  This week I feature a sampling of the issues in my collection on two actresses who had close connections with UNICEF. 

Miss Marlene Dietrich came to help the world' s children by acting as volunteer at the official opening of the 1961 UNICEF Greeting Cards campaign (15 August).  Making the first purchase at the Greeting Card counter in the General Assembly Building at the United Nations is Mr. John J. Myers, a New York industrialist. (UN Photo)

One of the most famous older actors was Marlene Dietrich from Germany who is shown in this photograph from my stamp album where she is volunteering to sell UNICEF greeting cards at the UN General Asembly Building.

This stamp from Germany was issued to co mmemorate the actress Marlene Dietrich. It is from a series of stamps honoring famous women from the German republic.

Another famous actress and one of the better known UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors was Audrey Hepburn who was very active in promoting UNICEF and children in difficult situations during the 1980's and until her passing in 1993. This souvenir sheet from Canada was issued to commemorate Yousuf Karsh a famous photogrpher of world known personalities whose work was highly appreciated globally. 

Here is the portrait of Audrey Hepburn on this stamp issued in 2003 by the United States to commemorate her acting career.

This is a stamp showing Audrey Hepburn which is NOT in my collection, but it has an interesting story that was featured in this week's American Philatelic Society's publication. The German Post Office printed this stamp with the well known image of Audrey from the film "Breakfast atTiffany".  However they made a mistake and showed her with a long woman's cigarette holder in her mouth, whereas in the original photo it was her eyeglasses.

The error was found out by her son Sean Ferrer who asked that it be withdrawn. The first printing was destroyed in 2001. However in 2004 asingle stamp appeared and four more were sold at auctions at prices ranging from $87,500-$341,000. Ferrer agreed with the German Government that the remaining sheet of the stamp be auctioned and the funds donated to a charity.The stamp is considered a major error and is worth large sums of money. BBC reported that the rare sheet of ten fetched Euros 430,000 at an auction in 2010. Two thirds of the proceeds went to the Audrey Hepburn  Children's Fund for child education in Africa, and one third to UNICEF.

Read other articles in Fouad's series on UNICEF's history in postage stamps